Under-19s captain Josh Ganson, on Wigan’s 37-12 victory over Castleford Tigers in the Academy Grand Final

Wigan win eighth Academy Grand Final in 10 years

Ganson pays credit to Castleford on a hard-fought battle

Under-19s captain Josh Ganson said it was an amazing feeling to win the Academy Grand Final.

Ganson, who has made four First Team appearances in 2017, played in Wigan’s 2015 Academy Grand Final winning side but was part of the squad that felt extra time heartache in last year’s Grand Final loss.

Having tasted both glory and defeat in his Under-19s career, Ganson admitted that there is no better feeling than being on the winning side.

Speaking after the game, he said: “It’s an amazing feeling!

“Just to be part of that group that has played all year is great. We’ve got some very talented players in the group so to be part of the team that won the Grand Final is fantastic.

“There was a lot of experience out there for us and it helped us having Jack Wells back in the team. Josh Woods didn’t shut up all game, I don’t know how he was still talking afterwards!

“The game management was important and I thought we controlled the game pretty well, the win was good but I thought the performance was fantastic too!”

George Williams presented Ganson with the Academy Grand Final winners trophy

The Tigers have chased the tails of the Warriors for large parts of the season, having finished second behind Darrell Goulding’s league leaders.

With Castleford humble in defeat afterwards, England Academy captain Ganson credited them on a good battle.

“They play like their First Team,” the 19-year-old added.

“They are full of confidence and their attacking plays are really dangerous if you let them play and they caught us early on with a few of them. If you switch off on your own line then they are the type of team that will get you.

“To come away from the game having only conceded 12 points against a team like Castleford was really positive for us.”